Elevator article-supporting apparatus



Dec. 29, 1964 R. J. sHELLEY 3,163,292

ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed March l5, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 L j /56 W INVENTOR.

\, ROBERT J. SHELLEY @Jig- Dec. 29, 1964 R. J. sHi-:LLEY 3,163,292

ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS Filed March 15, 1963 I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 DEC 29 1964 A R. J. SHELLEY 3,163,292

ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March l5, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT J. SHELLEY BY QM@ @www H15 'FL-PPE- United States Patent ELEVATOR ARTlQLE-SUPPGRTWG APPARATUS Robert J. Shelley, 70599 SW. 62nd Court, Miami, Fla. Filed Mar. 15, 1963, Ser. No. 266,145 Claims. (Si. 2li-49) This invention relates to an elevator article-supporting apparatus of the type used in restaurants, cafeteras, hospitals and like places, for supporting trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, and other similar articles to enable them to be automatically maintained at an elevated level such that the uppermost article may be readily removed from the article-supporting apparatus, as needed.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus for supporting trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, and other articles in restaurants, Cafeterias, hospitals, and like places, `and for maintaining them in an elevated position so that the uppermost article may be readily removed from a stack thereof, as and when needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide .a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus for storing and supporting trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, and other articlea'and which may be readily positioned within an opening in a counter top in a restau rant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, by cutting an opening in the counter top and arranging the new elevator unit therein.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus which is particularly adapted for use within the body of a counter cabinet in restaurants, Cafeterias, hospitals, and the like, and which may be readily installed in position of use and removed therefrom and which isV so designed, constructed and arranged that the new elevator articlesupporting apparatus and the counter or cabinet space in which it is mounted, may be readily kept in a sanitary condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide in one modilication thereof, an apparatus which may be readily used independently of any counter space or cabinet in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like space, for storing a stack of articles such as trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, and other articles, and maintaining the same automatically in a desired elevated position so that the uppermost article may be readily removed from the stack of such articles as and when needed.

A further object of the invention is to provide in one form thereof a new and improved elevator article-support-V ing apparatus for supporting a stack of trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, or like articles, in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, and for maintaining the stack of such articles in `a constantly elevated position and which may be used independently of and separate and apart from any counter cabinet, or like space, and may be supported upon a tloor or like supporting surface.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments of Patented Dec. 29, 1964- a counter top'or like space in which it is intended to be mounted;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the new elevator article-supporting apparatus, as shown in FIG. l, installed in a counter top or like place, a part thereof being roken away;

' FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in'section and partly n member and means for detach-ably attaching the same/to the elevator apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on line 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an elevational View of a. modification of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the modili'cation'of the invention illustrated in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view on line 9 9 in FIG. S.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. l to', inclusive, of the drawings, wherein it is generally indicated at 1Q, and includes a generally rectangular-shaped supporting frame structure 11 which includes side walls 11 and end walls 12 suitably joined together. The supporting frame structure 11 includes a marginal ange portion 13 which extends therearound andrwhich is adapted to be projected over a marginal ilange portion 63 which denes a cnt-out opening 14-V forrned in the top wall or counter top 15 of a restaurant or cafeteria counterY cabinet` 16 which includes vertical side walls 17 and abottom wall 1S which is provided with suitable supporting feet, as 56.

The new elevator article-supporting apparatus includes a plurality of elevator units 19, shown as being four in number, which are arranged in a pre-selected spaced relationship and pattern, and which me generally similar to the construction disclosed in FIGS. 9, 10 andv 1l of United States Patent No. 2,928,639, granted March l5., 1960, to Robert I. Sheeley on Elevator, and dilfer there-V from primarily only in certain respects which will be pointed out hereinafter.

Each ofthe elevator units 19 includes an inner longitudinally extending tubular guide member or standard 26 having an upper end portion 5S (FlG. 4) which is attached by a bracket 21 and a screw 22, to the outer side of a depending flange 23 of the marginal top ilange i3 of the supporting frame structure 11 (FIGS. l, 3 and 4) as shown, two of the elevator units 19 are associated with each end wall l2 of the vsupporting frame structure 11 (FIGS. 1 and 2).

coil spring 26. In its fully expanded state, the coil spr-ing 26, if not restrained, would project slightly above the upper end portion 2li of the inner tubular guide member or standard 2li. However, when assembled as shown, and when under no-load condi-tion, 'the coil spring 26 is under slight tension between the closed lower end Wall 25 of the outer tubular guide member 24 and an in-turned stop flange 27 which is formed at the top of an inner movable tubular sleeve 28. The inner movable tubular sleeve 28 is approximately the length of the outer tubular guide member 24 (FIG. 4) and the inner tubular sleeve 28 is disposed concentrically of the outer tubular guide member 24 and is dimensioned such that in the assembly of the parts the inner tubular sleeve 28 and the outer tubular guide member 24 are disposedr in sliding contact with each other, as shown in FIG. 4.

Another or outer compression coil spring 29 is arranged concentrically about the outside ofthe inner tubular sleeve 28 and this coil spring 29 is substantially shorter than the inner coil spring 26. An outer tubular guide member 30 `is arranged concentrically about the outer coil spring 29 and this outer tubular guide member 30 is substantially shorter than the outer coil spring 29. The outer tubular guide member 30 is formed a-t its lower end with an inturned fiange 31 which abuts the upper side of an outturned stop flange 32 which is formed on the lower end of the inner tubular sleeve 28. The coil spring 29 is disposed in the space between the inner tubular sleeve 28 and the outer tubular guide member 30, and the lower end portion of the coil spring 29 engages ythe inner or upper side of the in-turned tiange 31 (FIG, 4).

An outer and load-carrying tubular sleeve 33 is arranged concentrically about the outer tubular guide 30 and-these two members 3) and 33 have their lower and upper end portions, respectively, in nested engagement as shown in FIG. 4, so that the outer sleeve 33 will slide vertically on and relative to the outer tubular guide member Sii. The outer tubular sleeve 33 is approximately the same length as the outer tubular guide member 30. The outer tubular sleeve 33 has an in-turned flange 34 at the top thereof and the upper end portion 58 of the inner tubular guide member or standardk 20 projects through a centrally arranged opening 35 in the in-turned top flange 34 of the outer sleeve 33, the opening 35 being large enough to enable the upper end portion of the inner tubular sleeve 28 to work therethrough (FIG. 4).

The new elevator article-supporting apparatus includes an article-supporting frame or unit, generally indicated at 36, which is disposed below lthe supporting frame 11, and is suspended therefrom in a manner which will be described presently. The article-supporting unit 36 is generally rectangular in plan shape, and open, and includes a horizontally extending wall 37 which Vis surrounded by a vertically extending side wall or flange 3S.I

The present invention includes a novel means for attaching the article-supporting unit 36 to the load-carrying outer tubular sleeves 33 of the elevator units 19, and to this end an annular groove 4t) is formed in the body of each of the load-carrying outer tubular sleeves 33 on the outer surface thereof (FIG. 4). The elevator units 19 i kare arranged in pairs, as shown, and for the purpose of stabilizing the elevator units'19 against lateral movement or side sway, and for the purpose of attaching the articlesupporting unit 36 -to the load-carrying outer sleeves 33 of the elevator units I9, the present invention provides a pair of combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members 41, one of which extends between each of the two load-carrying tubular outer sleeves 33 of a pair of the elevator units 19. Each of these elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members 41 has portions which extend into and are tted in the annular groove 40 in the outer surfaces of a pair of the load-carrying tubular outer sleeves 33 (FIG. 4). Each of the members 41 has a depending flange 42 which projects downwardly therefrom and faces toward the adjacent pair of elevator units 19, and the article-supporting unit 36 is mounted on and is removably mounted on the horizontal wall portions of-these members 41, in a manner which will now be described (FIG. 4).

To this end a pair of generally rectangular ferrous or like metal attaching members 43 are provided and Veach of these members 43 is provided with a pair of spaced annular openings 59, each of these openings 59 being adapted to receive one of the outer tubular sleeves 33 (FIG. 4). Each of the attaching members 43 has an upwardly extending iange 60 formed thereon and these upwardly extending flanges 60 are xedly or permanently attached in any suitable manner, as by welding 61, to the upwardly extending marginal flange 38 of the article-supporting member 36. This arrangement enables the article-supporting member 36 to be readily inserted in position of use upon, and to be detached from, the load-carrying outer tubular sleeves 33 of the elevator units 19 by merely slipping the attaching members 43-60 over the outer tubular sleeve members 33 of the elevator units 19, prior to assembling the complete unit in a counter top 15, so that the outer tubular sleeve members 33 extend through the openings 59 inthe attaching members 43-60 with the attaching members 43-60 and the article-supporting members 36-38 removably mounted on the loadcarrying members 41-42.

In the use of the new elevator article-supporting apparatus 16, the same may be assembled, as shown, and the entire apparatus inserted through a cut-out opening 24, which may be readily formed in a counter top 15, into the body of a counter cabinet 16, whereupon the entire elevator article-supporting apparatus I0 will be suspended in the body of the counter cabinet 16 by engagement of the horizontally extending marginal flange 13 of the supporting frame 11 with the horizontal marginal wall 63 of the counter top 15 in which the cut-out opening 14 is defined. The parts of the new elevator article-supporting apparatus It), including the elevator units 19, are so dimensioned that when the assembled elevator article-supporting apparatus 10 is positioned in the body of the counter cabinet 16 the elevator units 19 are suspended from the depending flange 23 of the supporting frame structure 11 by the brackets 21 and screws 22 with the.

lower end portions 57 of the vertically extending standards or guide tubes 2) disposed above the bottom wall 18 of the counter cabinet 16, as shown in FIG. 3, for a reason which will be pointed out hereinafter.

With the new elevator article-supporting apparatus thus mounted in the body of a counter cabinet 16, it may be employed for supporting various articles, such, for example, as trays, cups, dishes, glasses, bowls, utensils, orY

other articles. Thus, for example, a stack of trays may be placed upon the article-supporting unit 36 by inserting them through the open supporting frame 11 onto the article-supporting unit 36 and into nested relationship thereon where they will be supported upon the horizontally extending wall 37 of the article-supporting unit 36 and within the upstanding marginal wall 38 thereof.

However, in the use of cups, dishes, glasses, bowls, and

other utensils, such articles would be stacked upon conventional wire baskets or like supporting units therefor (not shown) which would be inserted into an removed from posit-ion in the article-supporting unit in the same manner as describedv herein as to a typical use of the new elevator article-supporting apparatus for supporting a stack of trays. The load or weight of the articles such,

for example, as trays, thus stacked on the article-supporting unit 36 will then be transferred by the attaching members i3-6i) to the combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members 41 to the load-carrying tubular outer sleeves 33 of the elevator units 19, whereupon the elevator units 19 will operate as follows:

In the operative state tof the new elevator article-supporting apparatus, as shown in FIG. 4, the inner coil spring 26 is effective on the top flange 27 of the tubular inner sleeve 28 to apply an upward lifting or holding force thereto, and this upward lifting or holding force is transmitted from the tubular inner sleeve 28 to the outer concentric parts by the engaged flanges 32 and 31 of the inner tubular sleeve 28 and the outer tubular guide member 3), respectively.

The rates of the compression coil springs 26 andV 29 are such that both remain stationary until the weight of the trays on lnhe article-supporting unit 36 causes downward compression of the outer coil spring 29, slightly ahead of the inner coil spring 26, causing the upper end portion of the outer tubular sleeve 33 to move downwardly relative to its position as shown in FIG. 4, and downwardly relative to the inner tubular sleeve 28, through a short separate stroke. This enables the distance between the top of the supporting frame 11 and the top tray on the article-supporting unit 36 to be kept at a minimum. Thus, in order to prevent the load or stack of articles on the article-supporting Vunit 36 from moving the fcoil springs 26 and 29 d-own, the coil springs 26 and 29 are made long enough and of such strength to support the weight of a stack of articles on the article-supporting unit 36 before there is any appreciable movement and action of the outer tubular load-carrying sleeves 30 of the elevator units 19. Subsequently, as additional articles are added to the stack thereof on the articlesupporting unit 36, the design and rating of the outer coil spring 29 is such that it will compress approximately one inch for each two inches of Ymovement of the inner coil spring 26, and in this Way both coil springs 26 and 29 move at approximately the same rate and bottom at approximately the same time.

Accordingly, when there is suliicient weight or load of articles on the article-supporting unit 36, the tubular outer sleeves 33 of the elevator units 19 first move downwardly, thus causing each of the same to compress the outer coil spring 29 between the in-turned ange 34 at the top of the outer tubular sleeve 33 and the in-turned ange 31 at the bottom of the tubular outer guide member 30, which said flanges 34 and 31 are moved closer together, during this action.V During this operation the inwardly extending ange or stop 34 at the top of the tubular outer `sleeve 33 engages the in-turned flange 27 on the inner tubular guiide 28 and eventually, as additional weight, in the form of additional articles, is added to the article-supporting unit 36 and the combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members 41, the inner tubular sleeve 28 is pulled down, against the action of the inner coil spring 26, due the increased load andthe engagement between the top iianges 34 and 27, of the outer tubular sleeve 34 and the inner tubular sleeve 2S. Hence, the inner coil spring Z6 begins to .compress as the loading force is applied thereto by the top flange 27 of the inner tubular sleeve 28, and the inner tubular sleeve 28 begins to move down with the outer tubular sleeve 33 as additional articles are added to the articlesupporting unit 36, until the parts assume a loaded position, below the position in which they are shown in FIG. 3, depending upon the number and the weight of articles stacked on the article-supporting unit 36.

`As pointed out hereinbefore, the construction and operation of the elevator units 19 are substantially the same as the construction and operation of the elevator units shown in FIGS.,9, l() and ll of Patent No. 2,928,639 and diler therefrom primarily only in the manner in which theV elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members 41 are mounted on the load-carrying tubular outer sleeves 33 `of the elevator units 19, the fastening of the upper end portions 58 of the inner tubular guide members or standards to the supporting frame 11, and associated parts, and the manner in which the lower end portions of the inner tubular guide members or standards 20 are constructed, as at 57-25 (FIGS. l and 6), and are suspended above the door or base 18 of the counter cabinet 16 (FIG. 3).

It will be noted that when the new elevator articlesupporting unit 10 is mounted in position of use, as shown, in the cut-out opening 13 in the counter top 15 of a counter cabinet 16, the lower end portions 57 of the elevator units 19 are suspended above the floor or base 18 of the counter cabinet 16v so that access may 6 be readily had to the floor 1S and all other parts of the counter cabinet 16 for the purpose of cleaning and keeping the same in a sanitary condition.

It will likewise be noted that the articles may be readily removed, as desired, from the top article-supporting unit 36 through the open top of the supporting frame 11, and that the entire elevator and article-supporting unit 10 may be readily withdrawn from position of use in a counter cabinet 16, or like space, by lifting the entire unit, including the supporting frame structure 11 and its marginal tiange 13-33 olf from the marginal wall 15 of the counter top in which the :cut-out opening 14 therein is deiined.

It will be noted that in the use of the new elevator article-supporting apparatus the combination elevatorstabilizing and load-carrying members 41-42 stabilize the elevator units 19 against lateral or side sway or motion in the assembly and reinforce the entire apparatus.

It will further be noted that in the use of the elevator article-supporting apparatus the article-supporting unit 36-38 and attaching members i3-60 attached thereto may be readily inserted into and removed from ,the loadcarrying outer tubular sleeves 33 of the elevator units 19 when the new unit is detached from its position of use in the cabinet 16 and vfrom the supporting frame structure 11 to facilitate cleaning of the apparatus, and for other purposes.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawingspand in this modification those parts thereof which are similar to or comparable to corresponding parts in the form of the invention illustratedjin FIGS. l to 6, inclusive, have been given similar reference numerals followed by the additional and distinguishing reference character et Y The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, but differs therefrom in that this form of the invention is particularly adapted for use separate and apart from and Without being inserted into the body of a counter,

cabinet, such as 16, or like space, as is the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. lto 6, inclusive. Thus, they form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, may be used in restaurants, cafeteras, hospital, and like places, as an elevator article-supporting unit, independently of and separate from any counter cabinet, or like enclosed space;

The form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9; inclusive, includes a generally rectangular shaped open tubular supporting frame structure i4-which includesa top wall 43, spaced parallel side Walls 46 and 47, and a bottom wall 49, having an opening 51 therein. In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, the elevator units 19a are attached to the supporting frame 44 as follows.

Thus, each of the elevator units 15a has an'upper endV portion 50, which is comparable to the upper end portions 58 of the elevator units 19 inthe form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive, and each of these upper end portions S0 projects through an opening 51 whibh is formed in the bottoni wall @of the supporting frame structure 44 into the body of the rectangular-shaped tubular supporting frame 44. Each of the upper end portions 50 of the elevator units 19a is attachedto the supporting frame 44 by means of a bolt 53 which is extended through an opening 52 formed in the outer wall 46 ofthe tubular supporting frame 44, and through an opening 54 structure 44 is of such a nature that it is strong and sturdyV and providesl adequate structural strength to support the elevator units 19a and in such a manner that a stack of articles may be stored thereon and the entire elevator article-supporting unit a used in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, without the necessity for mounting it in a counter cabinet or counter top. Hence?, the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 requires a minimum of space while, at the same time, being readily movable from place to place for use. At the same time the entire elevator article-supporting apparatus shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 may be readily cleaned and kept in a sanitary condition.

It will thus be noted that in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, the new elevator article-supporting apparatus is provided with adequate structural strength by reason of the strong square channelshaped tubular supporting frame structure 44 and the manner in which the elevator units E9n are attached thereto, thus enabling the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 to be used independently of any counter cabinet or like enclosed space, and by merely being supported upon a door or like surface. Otherwise, the operation of the new elevator apparatus, shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, inclusive, is similar to that in the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS.K1 to 6, inclusive.

Itfwill thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present invention provides a new and improved elevator article-supporting apparatus, for the uses and purposes therein described, and that it thus accomplishes its intended objects and has the desirable advantages and characteristics including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherent in the invention.

I claim:

1. An elevator article-supporting apparatus for supporting a stack of trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, or the like, in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, comprising, in combination, a cabinet including a counter top having an opening formed therein and having a marginal edge portion surrounding and delining said opening, a supporting frame structure coextensive with the said opening in said counter top and including a marginal ange portion extending over and resting upon the said marginal edge portion of said counter top dening said opening therein, a plurality of elevator units each including a vertically extending inner tubular guide membor or standard having an upper end portion, a tubular outer load-carrying sleeve member slidably mounted on the said tubular guide member or standard, compression spring means arranged in concentric relationbetween the said inner tubular guide member or standard and the said tubular outer load-carrying sleeve member and normally urging the latter into an elevated or raised position toward the said supporting frame structure, means for attaching the said upper end portions of the said inner tubular guide members or standards of said elevator units to said supporting frame structure, and an article-supporting unit removably mounted on the said tubular outer load-carrying sleeve members of said elevator units and disposed below the said supporting frame structure and normally urged by the said yieldable compression spring means to maintain the said article-supporting unit and a stack of articles thereon at a uniform elevated or raised position relative to the said supporting frame structure and the said counter top.

2. An elevator article-supporting apparatus as defined in claim l in which the said cabinet includes side walls and a bottom wall, and in which the said elevator units are supported by and are suspended from the said supportingV frame structure with the lower end portions of the said vertically extending inner tubular guide members or standards disposed slightly above the said bottom wall of the said cabinet.

3. An elevator article-supporting apparatus for supporting a stack of trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils, or like articles, in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, comprising a supporting frame structure, a plurality of vertically extending elevator units arranged in a preselected spaced relationship or pattern below the said supporting frame structure and each including a vertically extending inner tubular guide member or standard having an upper end portion attached to the said supporting frame structure, a telescopically interconnected inner tubular sleeve member and an outer tubular guide member arranged concentrically about the said inner tubular guide member or standard, an outer load-carrying spring-urged tubularl sleeve member slidably mounted upon the said outer tubular guide member, an inner compression coil spring arranged concentrically about the said inner tubular guide member or standard and an outer compression coil spring member arranged between the said outer tubular member and normally urging the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve member into a raised or elevated position toward the said supporting frame structure, an article-supporting unit arranged between and removably mounted upon the said elevator units, each ofthe said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve members having an annular groove formed therein in its outer surface, and the said elevator article-supporting apparatus including a plurality of combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members each extending between a plurality of said elevator units, each of the said combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members having a portion engaged in the said annular groove in the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve member of a plurality of said elevator units for mounting the said article-supporting unit upon the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve members of the said elevator units.

4. An elevator article-supporting apparatus for supporting a stack of trays, cups, glasses, dishes, bowls, utensils,

or like articles, in a restaurant, cafeteria, hospital, or like place, comprising a supporting frame structure, including a generally rectangular-shaped open hollow tubular supporting frame member, a plurality of vertically extending elevator units arranged in a pre-selected spaced relationship or pattern below the said supporting frame structure and each including a vertically extending inner tubular guide member or standard having an upper end portion extending into and attached to the said generally rectangular-shaped open hollow tubular supporting frame member of said supporting frame structure, a telescopically interconnected inner tubular sleeve member and an outer tubular guide member arranged concentrically about the said inner tubular guide member or standard, an outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve member slidably mounted upon the said outer tubular guide member, an inner compression coil spring arranged concentrically about the said inner tubular guide member or standard and an outer compression coil spring member arranged between the said outer tubular member and normally urging the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve member into a raised or elevated position toward the said supporting frame structure, an article-supporting unit removably mounted upon and extending between the said elevator units, and means for removably mounting the said article-supporting unit upon the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve members of said elevator units.

5. An elevator article-supporting apparatus as dened in claim 4 in which each of said outer load-carrying springurged tubular sleeve members has an annular groove formed therein in its outer surface, and in which the said elevator article-supporting apparatus includes a plurality of combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members each extending between a plurality of said elevator units, each of the said combination elevator-stabilizing and load-carrying members having a portion engaged in the said annular groove in the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve member of a plurality of said elevator units for mounting the said article-supporting unit upon the said outer load-carrying spring-urged tubular sleeve members of the said elevator units, whereby the said elevator article-supporting apparatus may be moved from place to place with the said vertically extending elevator units resting upon a supporting surface and maintained against lateral swaying movement.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Russell Apr. 9, 1946 Haines Dec. 17, 1957 Shelley Mar. 15, 1960 Johnson Jan. 16, 1962 

1. AN ELEVATOR ARTICLE-SUPPORTING APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING A STACK OF TRAYS, CUPS, GLASSES, DISHES, BOWLS, UTENSILS, OR THE LIKE, IN A RESTAURANT, CAFETERIA, HOSPITAL, OR LIKE PLACE, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A CABINET INCLUDING A COUNTER TOP HAVING AN OPENING FORMED THEREIN AND HAVING A MARGINAL EDGE PORTION SURROUNDING AND DEFINING SAID OPENING, A SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE COEXTENSIVE WITH THE SAID OPENING IN SAID COUNTER TOP AND INCLUDING A MARGINAL FLANGE PORTION EXTENDING OVER AND RESTING UPON THE SAID MARGINAL EDGE PORTION OF SAID COUNTER TOP DEFINING SAID OPENING THEREIN, A PLURALITY OF ELEVATOR UNITS EACH INCLUDING A VERTICALLY EXTENDING INNER TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBOR OR STANDARD HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION, A TUBULAR OUTER LOAD-CARRYING SLEEVE MEMBER SLIDABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAID TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBER OR STANDARD, COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS ARRANGED IN CONCENTRIC REALTION BETWEEN THE SAID INNER TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBER OR STANDARD AND THE SAID TUBULAR OUTER LOAD-CARRYING SLEEVE MEMBER AND NORMALLY URGING THE LATTER INTO AN ELEVATED OR RAISED POSITION TOWARD THE SAID SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE SAID UPPER END PORTIONS OF THE SAID INNER TUBULAR GUIDE MEMBERS OR STANDARDS OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS TO SAID SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE, AND AN ARTICLE-SUPPORTING UNIT REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON THE SAID TUBULAR OUTER LOAD-CARRYING SLEEVE MEMBERS OF SAID ELEVATOR UNITS AND DISPOSED BELOW THE SAID SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE AND NORMALLY URGED BY THE SAID YIELDABLE COMPRESSION SPRING MEANS TO MAINTAIN THE SAID ARTICLE-SUPPORTING UNIT AND A STACK OF ARTICLES THEREON AT A UNIFORM ELEVATED OR RAISED POSITION RELATIVE TO THE SAID SUPPORTING FRAME STRUCTURE AND THE SAID COUNTER TOP. 